Fafa: [Master, I don’t know how to get back.]  

“Let go.” Xuan Yanyu softened his voice.  

Yan Yuning looked up at him, her hands clenched into fists.  

The man crouched down and used his golden-cloud-patterned sleeve to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips.  

Yan Yuning shoved him away violently, her voice trembling as she shouted, “Stay away from me!”  

Xuan Yanyu was visibly stunned, his chest tightening as if something were lodged in it.  

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao patted her back soothingly.  

If only she had listened to Ningning and left this place together, none of this would have happened.  

She had even promised A’Ci that she would buy him lots of sweets.  

“Elder Sister, I’ll take A’Ci home,” Yan Yuning said with a smile, wiping away her tears.  

A’Ci was the first friend she had made in this world, and Sister Bai was the second. Now, both of them were gone…  

Xuan Yanyu had no heart for anyone except her elder sister. Fafa was right—in the end, all her efforts would be in vain. It was better to let things take their natural course.  

“Ningning, Brother Yu and I will accompany you,” Yan Shiyao said weakly, her hand pressed to her chest, her lips pale.  

“No need. I’ll take A’Ci back myself,” Yan Yuning refused.  

Xuan Yanyu lowered his gaze to her. “How will you take him back by yourself?”  

“That’s none of your concern.” The girl’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms.  

Xuan Yanyu sneered. “You’re right. It’s none of my concern.”  

With that, the man turned and left.  

Yan Yuning lowered her eyes, a single tear sliding down the corner of her eye.  

Luo Xuan raised an eyebrow, her red lips curving into a faint smile. “Brother Qingchen, let’s go too.”  

Qi Qingchen’s gaze flickered, and he followed Luo Xuan out of the room.  

“Elder Sister, Luo Xuan said A’Ci waited for me for a long time. Why didn’t anyone come looking for me?” Yan Yuning stared blankly at A’Ci on the bed, still unable to believe he was gone.  

She pulled the brocade quilt over him. His hands were so cold—he must have been freezing. Covering him with the quilt would keep him warm.  

Yan Shiyao’s lips trembled as she choked out, “They did look for you. They just couldn’t find you.”  

Yan Yuning could no longer hold back her sobs. It was her fault for being greedy and stopping at a shop to eat. The town was so big—of course they couldn’t find her right away.  

“Ningning, I’m sorry. If only I had listened to you and left with you…” Yan Shiyao slowly closed her eyes.  

“Elder Sister, you were poisoned by Manzhuxiang too. Did Xuan Yanyu give you the antidote?”  

“No, it was Physician Wen. He said he only had one antidote pill.” Every word Yan Shiyao spoke was laced with pain.  

[Fafa, who is Physician Wen? Why would he have the antidote?] Yan Yuning bit her lip. Had Xuan Yanyu not lied after all? Did he really not have the antidote?  

Fafa: [Physician Wen? She must be referring to the head of the Xuanzhao Imperial Hospital, Imperial Physician Wen. The book mentioned that Xuan Yanyu brought Imperial Physician Wen when he came to Qilan Kingdom.]  

Yan Yuning trembled all over. Xuan Yanyu was a big liar.  

Back in his room, Xuan Yanyu glanced at Yan Yuning’s quilt on the bed, his frustration written plainly across his face.  

“Was I wrong in this matter? She dares to give me attitude?” Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face darkened with anger.  

What was he supposed to do?  

Abandon A’Yao to save A’Ci instead?  

“Your Highness could never be wrong,” Yechen chimed in.  

Xuan Yanyu pressed his lips together and yanked Yan Yuning’s quilt over to prop under his head.  

After a long silence, the man on the bed sat up, his voice low and heavy. “No, that’s not right. Why would she be angry with me? She doesn’t even know I chose A’Yao.”  

“Your Highness, I think it’s possible that the Second Young Miss Yan guessed the Eldest Young Miss’s poison was cured by a physician you brought. She blames you for only caring about the Eldest Young Miss and not A’Ci.”  

“Qi Qingchen spends all his time with Luo Xuan—he wouldn’t have had the time to take the Eldest Young Miss to a physician. From her perspective, the Second Young Miss can only blame you.”

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling that Yechen was talking nonsense—how could such an explanation sound so absurd?  

“Your Highness, since the Second Young Miss Yan dares to give you attitude, why don’t you just ignore her too?” Yechen suggested smoothly.  

The man reclined lazily on the bed, his slender fingers toying with the jade pendant at his waist.  

“Your Highness, didn’t you always hate it when women cried and made a fuss? Look at how the Second Young Miss Yan kept crying today.” Yechen secretly lifted his eyelids to observe Xuan Yanyu’s reaction.  

Xuan Yanyu leaned back slightly, closing his eyes as a low, languid voice escaped his lips. “Why should I bother arguing with her?”  

Yechen took a deep breath—the sky was falling!  

What happened to the days when you couldn’t stand women’s tears?!  

At the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, when the Seventh Princess fell and hurt herself, she didn’t even dare to cry in front of His Highness, fearing that the Xuan Emperor would have her thrown out of the feast.  

…  

Early the next morning.  

Luo Xuan sat in front of the bronze mirror, pinching a bit of rouge between her fingers and pressing it lightly to her lips.  

A rich, vibrant red coated her lips, like ripe cherries—radiant and captivating.  

Nuonuo pushed open the door and froze when she saw Luo Xuan dressed in a red wedding gown. A wave of unease surged in her heart.  

“Clan Leader, you…” Nuonuo stepped forward, taking the wooden comb from Luo Xuan’s hand and gently smoothing her hair.  

Her movements were extra careful, afraid of disturbing even a single strand.  

“Nuonuo, from this moment on, you are the tenth Clan Leader of Taoyuan Manor.” Luo Xuan smiled softly.  

She fastened the Clan Leader’s token to Nuonuo’s waist.  

Nuonuo’s hand, holding the comb, trembled uncontrollably.  

“Nuonuo, I believe you will manage Taoyuan Manor well.” Luo Xuan’s voice was gentle.  

Nuonuo shook her head, her hands shaking even more violently. “I can’t… Clan Leader, you are the only leader of Taoyuan Manor. Nuonuo isn’t capable…”  

“Nuonuo, you are.” Luo Xuan’s tone was tender as she slowly stood up.  

The red wedding gown made her skin appear even paler. Nuonuo gazed at Luo Xuan, her vision blurring with tears—today, the Clan Leader was truly, breathtakingly beautiful.  

Nuonuo watched as Luo Xuan pulled open the door and walked out, following Qi Qingchen, who stood waiting outside.  

“Brother Qingchen, does A’Xuan look pretty today?” Luo Xuan touched the hair ornaments in her locks, smiling brilliantly.  

Qi Qingchen pressed his lips together and gave a faint “Mm.”  

Luo Xuan suddenly paused mid-step, grabbing Qi Qingchen’s arm and rising onto her tiptoes. Her red lips pressed against his thin ones.  

Qi Qingchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he gazed at her with deep, unfathomable eyes.  

Seeing that he didn’t resist, Luo Xuan’s cheeks flushed pink, and she slowly cupped his face with both hands…  

Hiding behind a tree, Yan Yuning—who had originally come to settle scores with Luo Xuan—parted her lips slightly, her eyes wide with shock.  

[Fafa, Qi Qingchen, he… they…] She stared at the two embracing intimately in front of her.  

Fafa: [What about them?]  

Yan Yuning bit her lower lip hard. [I knew Qi Qingchen wasn’t worthy of my elder sister!]  

Fafa: [Master, this is ancient times. Qi Qingchen is a prince—do you really think he could have only your elder sister as his woman? Is that realistic?]  

Yan Yuning lowered her gaze. Right, Qi Qingchen was a prince, and in the future, he would become the Emperor of Qi. How could he possibly have only her elder sister?  

Fafa: [Qi Qingchen has a concubine. After obtaining the antidote, he’ll return to the palace and find his Consort Jin by Empress Li’s side, attending to her. He’ll spend the night with her. By the time you all return to the capital—when the male and female leads’ relationship starts to deepen, and Qi Qingchen wants to marry Yan Shiyao as his official consort—]  

Fafa: [Consort Jin will be diagnosed by the imperial physician as pregnant. But in the end, the child is given to Yan Shiyao to raise.]  

Yan Yuning’s eyes flickered. [What about Xuan Yanyu? He’s the Crown Prince—does he have concubines too?]  

Fafa: [Xuan Yanyu? The book mentioned that ever since Xuan Yanyu was a child, the Xuan Emperor arranged a Crown Princess for him. The Emperor was determined to make him marry the Crown Princess, afraid that he might take a fancy to other noblewomen and cause trouble. With the Crown Princess not yet married into the household, how could the Emperor allow other women by Xuan Yanyu’s side?]  

Yan Yuning pouted. [But didn’t he still fall for my elder sister?]  

Fafa suddenly raised it’s mechanical voice. [Master, is it possible that Yan Shiyao is the Crown Princess the Xuan Emperor arranged for Xuan Yanyu?!]